Adding a Directory to the PATH

I'm using Red Hat Linux 6.2, can anybody tell me how I can add a directory to the Path pls. My fingers are falling off typing full directory locations to commands!

thanks

Coupla' things-

You can use "tab autocompletion" to complete a filename/path. Partially type something and then hit tab once (or twice on some distros, I think you can edit this) to see a list of possible completions.

If you're using bash, edit your ".bash_profile" file in your home directory and add


If you're not sure if you're using bash, type

and you'll see what shell you're using.

I don't remember if you need to logout and log back in for it to take effect. type

or just

to see your path.
If you don't see your updated path you probably need to logout and back in.

If you want to make it system wide, I think you edit the /etc/skel/.bash_profile, but I don't really remember.

Sorry if I'm being too basic. Not sure where you're at with your *nix skills.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply.

I got it to work for a particular user. But I want it to work for specifically the root user, or everybody - either it doesn't matter.

The server I'm using came pre-setup by the hosting company with two root users, one of which I do not use, it is for emergency access. The other is the one accessed when you su - , how this is done I've no idea!

In the home dir of this root user there is a .tcshrc which contains a set path statment. I added the path into this, logged out etc, however it wasn't available after when I "echo $PATH"ed .

I also tried the etc/skel/ method and this ddidnt work either...

Any other ideas?

then edit the .bash_profile (again, this is assuming you're using the bash shell. If you aren't, then it's different) of the root user.
here's how the commands might look

Ok,

normal users are using bash. But the root user is using tcshrc (whatever this is I have no idea!).

Any hints on what to do here?